By Larissa Beriswill
The Morning Journal
VERMILION, Ohio — Two Vermilion residents were recognized at the Vermilion City Council meeting on July 15 for their actions in rescuing an elderly woman from a house fire on Idleview Drive two months ago.
Tony Budka and Matt Green were honored by Mayor Jim Forthofer and Fire Department Chief Bill Brown for their selfless act of kindness on May 13 when the men risked their lives by braving the flames of their elderly neighbor’s house to ensure her safety.
“These types of things give me hope that our society is not totally lost,” Brown said. “They didn’t have to, but they risked their safety for their neighbor.”
Budka and Green, who is an Erie County sheriff’s deputy, both noticed thick smoke coming from the house and knew they had to immediately try to help, according to Brown.
The two took it upon themselves to break the door open to the house, through smoke and flames with no safety gear, before the Vermilion Fire Department showed up minutes later to control the blaze, he said.
“If I could pick my neighbors, Tony Budka and Matt Green would be at the top of my list,” Brown said. “I’m assuming they did it without thinking for a second, just ran in and did it.”
Knowing the fire victim was elderly and did not know the danger she could face, Budka and Green crawled through the home searching for her and ultimately realized she wasn’t there, Forthofer said.
The two men also saved Shultz’s dog and some of her valuable items from perishing in the fire.
“What they did was absolutely amazing,” Brown said.
Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth recognized Green with an official Sheriff’s Office citation issued by the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association for his actions.
Sigsworth also awarded Budka with a Sheriff’s Office Challenge Coin for his bravery.
“I’m not surprised that he did what he did, nor am I surprised that Tony did what he did because we see this a lot,” the sheriff said. “And, we are very, very fortunate to live in the communities we live in and to have involvement from folks just like this.”
Forthofer said Budka and Green were commended for springing into quick action regardless of the situation, and recognized as “the kind of Vermilionite any of us would be proud to call their neighbor.”
“Vermilion is a community of neighborhoods,” he said. “Those who volunteer to take care of their neighbors, epitomize the truest spirit of this small town on a great lake.”
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